If we can do the math the total total number of missiles needed to fully arm all LCS and FFGX approaches 416 not including spares so it will probably be at least that number if not a lot more by the time its all said and done
My guess the LRASM if deployed on surface ships will go to the Burkes and TICOS but I could very well be wrong there too and they may end up with NSM or what they have now which is not much besides SM6
are you kidding, dtulsa? Ticos and Burkes minus Flight 2A are armed with the Harpoon as far as I know, so it'd be several hundred AShMs, definitely not something I'd call "not much" as you did LOL
I was definitely referrng to the flight II but Harpoon is being slowly phased out of active service (at least the current version) if a new version is selected or NSM or LRASM will actually be coming up in the near future I think in the next year or two having just chosen NSM I tend think it has a leg up on them but we will definitely see about that for sure
Yep the Harpoon as we know it is getting long in the tooth from a technical and range point and it' getting harder to upgrade all the time
that's what you say, while
Yep thats the version i was talking about the navy decided to go with NSM for reasons unknown to me but as far as I know it will be entered in the other competiton with the LRASM and NSM
Could be NSM was selected tor two or three reasons 1. It's a bit lighter around 300-400 LBS. Per missile ( we already know LCS has a weight problem) 2. It's designed for the littoral 3. It's has stealth features (Everybody) seems to want and 4. It's just cheaper 5. There is a dual use version coming up around 2023 with a larger warhead and increased range 6. It is the only anri-ship missile that can fit inside the (Choke and Gag) F35 but I really don't know the actual reason myself